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On Shabbat and festivals, it is a mitzva to study more Torah than usual. On weekdays, people are so busy making a living they have little time to learn Torah. This is why God gave us Shabbat and festivals, commanding us to refrain from melakha – so that we can study Torah. As the Sages state: “Shabbat and Yom Tov were given to us solely for the purpose of studying Torah” (Jerusalem Talmud, Shabbat 15:3).
Additionally, since Shabbat and festivals are holy days, it is particularly appropriate to study the holy Torah then, which illuminates the weekdays as well. Shabbat is meant to elevate and illuminate the days of the week, and each festival is designed to shed its particular light on the whole year. Therefore, on each festival, it is a mitzva to study the laws of that festival as well as the relevant fundamentals of faith rooted in the day.
There is also a mitzva to integrate physical and spiritual pleasure. Accordingly, our Sages advise us to divide up the day: half the time should be spent studying Torah, and half the time should be spent on enjoying Shabbat with food and drink. This applies to men. Women too should study Torah on Shabbat and Yom Tov, but they are not obligated to dedicate half of the day to it. Nevertheless, those who are able to do so are worthy of blessing.
